Braiding-machine.



C. E. TRAXEL.

BRAlDlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. i915.

1',%995,39@ Patented Feb. 25,1919. V

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C.E.TRAXEL.

BRAIDIN'G MACHINE.

APPL ICATION FILED APR- 7. l9l5. 4

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- CHARLES E. TRAXEL, OF ROME, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROMEWIRE COMPANY,

ROME, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

BRAIDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

To all Whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. T RAxnL-, a citizen of the United States,residlng at Rome, in the county of Oneida and State of New York,haveinvented an Improvement in Braiding-Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

In braidirig-machines for covermg w re with silk, cotton and otherthreads, automatic means have been provided for stopping the machine incase a thread breaks, said means usually consisting of a weight adaptedto be lifted by the thread when the thread is pulled taut, and arrangedto act by gravity when the thread breaks, thereby to control theoperation of a stop-motion or clutch for the machine.

The threads are rapidly drawn from supplies arranged on supply-holders,and in Letters Patent #1,058,206, dated April 8, 1913, granted to me,each supply-holder has a tension-device in the form of a frictionbrakewhich engages and exerts a moderate pressure upon it, whereby its rotarymotion is resisted, but not positively restrained or checked, and atake-up arm for the thread movement of which is opposed by a spring, isarranged to be engaged by the thread and to be operated by a ull uponthe thread, and

when raised to a predetermined position to move the friction-brake willrelieve the tension on the supply-holder, thus admitting of suddenwithdrawals of thread from the supply-holder, which movements areyieldingly resisted, and as a result the thread will not be broken evenwhen the machine is being driven at high speed.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of acontrolling-member for the stop-motion or clutch-mechanism of themachine, which is arranged to be operated by said take-u arm, in case athread breaks and said ta e-up arm resumes its normal position tocontrol the stopping of the machine.

Another object of the invention is the construction of thecontrolling-member, adapting it to be moved positively in bothdirections by the take-up arm.

Figure l, is a side-elevation of a traveling carrier forbraiding-machines embodying this invention, the take-up arm being inpartial elevated position.

Fig. 2. is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3, is a detail showing the take-up arm in full elevated positionwith the frictionbrake disengaged.

" Fig. 4, is a similar detail showing the takeup arm'in its normal orlowermost position, and the controlling-member for the clutchmechanism,operated to cause disengagement of the clutch.

Fig. 5, is a plan view of the traveling-carrier (the supply-holder beingremoved) and having a circularly formed base 14. Suitable means are ormay be arranged at the.

top of the post to prevent axial movement of the supply-holder. 40represents the takeup arm for the thread 41, and has a hook 42, or othermeans at itsextremity for engagement with the thread, which threadpasses over a hook or. other means arranged on an upright post 35 on thetraveling-carrier. Said take-up arm is secured to a pivot-shaft 43,which extends through a hole in an arm 7 O, and which has arranged on ita spring 44, attached at one end to it, and at the other end to said arm70, said spring acting to move the take-up arm in a downward direction,and thus oppose its upward movement due to a pull upon the thread.

The end of the spring may be adjustably attached to the pivot-shaft, asfor instance,

by arranging a disk on said shaft, havin g' notches in its periphery,and arranging the end of the spring in any of said notches.

The take-up arm, as here shown, has a projection 46 arranged to engage aprojection 47 on the carrier-frame to limit its upward movement. Also,as here shown, it has a projection 48'arranged'to engage thecontrolling-member of the stop-motion or clutch of the machine. Saidcontrollingmember is made as a bell-crank lever comprising an uprightarm 60, and a laterally extended arm 61, and is pivoted to thecarrier-frame at 62. It also has a heel-extension 63, for limiting itsmovement in one direction, see Fig. 3. and its movement in the otherdirection is limited by the upper end of its arm .60, striking againstthe side of the arm 70 or any other stop, see Fig. 4. Its laterallyextended arm 61, has a forward projection or ear 64;

When the take-up arm is in its lowermost position, see Fig. 4, itengages the projection 64, and is thereby prevented from furthermovement, and the projection 48, on said arm extends over the top of theprojection 64, and thus acts to prevent movement of thecontrolling-member into its other position. The take-up arm andcontrolling-member will occupy these positions when the thread breaks.Vhen the take-up arm is lifted by a pull upon the thread, see Figs. 1and 3, its projection 48 is moved into engagement with the side of theupright arm 60, and acts to move the controllingmember on its pivot,thereby to raise the projection 64, to permit engagement of the clutch;and said controlling-member will be 7 positively held in this positionduring the time the take-up arm is thus lifted, but when the threadbreaks and the take-up arm resumes its normal or lowermost position, itsprojection 48 will engage and positively move the laterally extended arm61, thus moving the controlling-member on its pivot. The projection 64is thus moved into position to cause disengagement of the clutch. Itwill be observed that the controlling-member is moved positively in bothdirections, and also is positively held in both of its positions.

One form of stop-motion is here shown for the purpose of illustratingone embodiment of my invention which is arranged to be controlled by thecontrolling-member here shown.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the projection 64 of the controlling-memberis arranged for engagement with the curved end-portion 65, of a holdinglever pivotally mounted on a stud 66, the other end-portion of whichlever has a latch-formed extremity 67, for engagement with a pivotedclutch-lever 68.

The clutch-lever has a spring 69 attached to it by which it is moved toslide the clutchmember, and thereby disengage the clutch, and saidclutch lever is adapted to be held in clutch-engaging position by theholdinglever with the latch-formed end which engages it, and to be movedby its actuating spring when said holding-lever is moved out ofengagement with it. Said holding-lever has a spring 91 connected with itto provide a yielding connection for it. When the controlling-member,which is operated by the take-up arm, is in its elevated position, asrepresented in Figs. 1 or 3, its projection 64 occupies a path ofmovement above the curved end-portion 65 of the holding-lever, inconsequence of which said holding-lever is held in en agement with theclutch-lever, therebv to hoid said lever in clutch-engaging naeaesaposition. When the thread breaks and the take-up arm resumes its normalposition said controlling-member is moved, and its projection 64 entersa ath of movement for engagement with said curved end-portion, and uponengaging said portion, acts to move the holding-lever to disengage theclutch-lever and permit disengagement of the clutch.

Thus it will be seen that the clutch-lever may be moved by hand intoclutch-engaging position, and the machine started, and that said leverwill be held in such position by the holding-lever, which is arrangedfor engagement with the controlling-member, adapted to be operated bythe take-up arm when the thread breaks, thus automatically stopping themachine.

The arm 70, to which the take-up arm is pivotally connected, is hereshown as the pivoted supporting-member for the frictionbrake for thesupply-holder. Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, the friction-brake isconstructed and arranged for cooperation with a metallic supply-holderhaving a circularly formed base with a corrugated flange, the inside ofthe flange being employed as the brake-engaging surface. In thestructure shown in said figures, the arm 70 is pivoted at its lower endto an ear on the carrier frame, and has a projection 71 at its upper endwhich is adapted to engage the side of the corrugated flange, and saidarm 70 is movable in the directiontoward the left, Fig. 1, by the spring44, thereby to engage said flange. The force of such engagement isgradually increased as the take-up arm is lifted until such time as saidarm is positively moved out of engagement .with the flange. The take-uparm has a projection 72 arranged near its pivot, which, ,when said armis raised high enough, will engage a fixed pin 73, on the carrier-frame,and by further movement and consequent pressure upon said pin, said arm70 is moved on its pivot in the direction toward the right Fig. 3,- andits projection 71 moved out of engagement with the corrugatedbrake-engaging surface. It will be noted that, as one end of the springis attached to the pivot shaft and the other end to the arm 70, that,wrfhen said spring is adjusted rotarily and the pivot shaft turned bythe take-up arm, the force exerted by the spring will have a tendency tomove the arm 70 on its pivot in a direction toward the left of Fig. 1.The tension of the spring is suflicient to act to move said arm 70 insuch man ner not only when the take-up arm is lifted, but also when thetake-up arm is moved into its lowermost position. due to threadbreakage, as shown in Fig. 4. However, in so far as the operation of thecontrolling-member for the clutch-mechanism by the take-up arm isconcerned, the friction-brake may be omitted, or, if employed, may beconstructed in any other manner, hence a modified form of friction-brakeis represented in Figs.v 7 and 8, which is adapted for a supply-holderof another type. In this instance, the supply-holder has a circularlyformed base with notches on its under side, and the member 70, to whichthe take-up arm is pivoted, has an extension arm 80, with a projection81, thereon, arranged for engagement with and disengagement from thenotches. It isobviou's that the operation of the parts is the.

same when the thread runs out as when the thread breaks. I

1. In a braiding-machine, the combination of a clutch-mechanism for themachine, a traveling-carrier, a controlling-member pivotally supportedon said carrier, and arranged to control the operation of saidclutch-mechanism, and a take-up arm for the thread, borne by saidcarrier and arranged to move said controlling-member into and out ofposition for engagement with the clutch operating mechanism.

2. 'In a braiding-machine, the combination of a clutch-mechanism for themachine, a traveling-carrier, a two-armed controllingmember borne bysaid carrier and arranged to control the operation of saidclutch-mechanism, a pivoted take-up arm for the thread borne by saidcarrier, said take-up arm engaging one arm of the controlling-member tomove the other arm of said member into and out of the path of theclutch-mechanism 3. In a braiding-machine, the combination of aclutch-mechanism for the machine, a traveling-carrier, arida pivotedcontrollingmember borne by said carrier comprising an upright arm and a"laterally extended arm with a forward projection, and a take-up arm forthe thread, borne by the carrier, having a projection thereon forengagement, respectively, with th arms of said controlling-member, theforward projection of said controlling-member being arranged forcontrolling the clutch-mechanism.

4. In a braiding-machine, the combination ,with the clutch-mechanism forthe machine, and actuating-means therefor, of holding means arranged tohold said actuatingmeans in condition to operate, a travelingcarrier, acontrolling-member for said holdng-means borne by said carrier, atake-up arm adapted for engagement with thread, in the upward anddownward paths of movement of which said controlling-member is arranged,and a spring to oppose upward movement of said arm.

5. In a braiding-machine, the combination of a rotatable supply-holder,a traveling' carrier therefor, a friction-brake borne by said carrierand arranged for engagement with the supply-holder, and a take-up armadapted for engagement with the thread arranged to actuate saidfriction-brake torelieve the pressure. on the supply-holder by a pullupon the thread, a spring to oppose movement of the arm, and acontrollingmember for stopping the machine, arranged in the upward anddownward paths of movement of said take-up arm to be operated when saidarm is moved.

6. In a braiding machine, a carrier comprising a rotatable supply holderprovided with a corrugated portion, a member having a projection, meansfor moving said member with its projection into engagement with saidcorrugated portion, a take-up arm arranged on said member, an abutment,said take up arm having means for engaging said abutment to move saidmember and disengage the projection from the corrugated portion. I

7. In a braiding machine, a carrier comprising a rotatable supply holderprovided with a corrugated portion, a pivoted memher having aprojection, said member being movable to cause its projection to engageand disengage said corrugated portion, an abutment, a spring-pressedtake-up arm pivotally supported on said member, having a projectionadapted to engage said abutment when in an elevated position to movesaid member to cause its projection to disengage the corrugated portion.

8. In a braiding machine, a carrier comprising a rotatable supply-holderprovided with engaging portions, a member having a projection adapted toengage said engaging portions, a pivoted spring-pressed takeup armadapted when raised to a predetermined height, to move said member todisprising a rotatable supply holder provided with engaging portions, amember having a projection adapted to engage said engaging portions, apivoted spring-pressed take-up arm adapted when raised to apredetermined height, to move said member to disengage the supplyholder, a clutch-mechanism for the stop-motion mechanism, a controlling--member, a lug carried by said take-up arm adapted upon upward movementof the arm to engage and move said controlling-member in one directionand" upon downward movement of the arm to engage and move saidcontrolling-member in the other direction to operate theclutch-mechanism.

In a braiding machine, a carrier comprising a rotatable supply holder, apivoted Y of position for engagement with the clutch tion, aclutch-mechanism for the stop-mo tion mechanism, a pivotedcontrolling-member for said clutch-mechanism adapted to be operated bysaid take-up arm into and out mechanism.

' 11. In a braiding machine, a carrier comprising a rotatable supplyholder, a ivoted take-up arm, restrainin -means for t e supply holderadapted to e operated by said arm when raised to a predeterminedelevation, a clutch-mechanism for the stop-motion mechanism, a pivotedbell-crank lever, one arm of which is arranged tocontrol theclutch-mechanism and bot-h arms of which are arranged to be engaged bysaid take-up arm.

12. In a braiding machine, a carrier comprising a rotatable supplyholder, a pivoted take-up arm, restraining-means for the supply holderadapted to be operated by said arm when raised to a predeterminedelevation, a clutch-mechanism for the stop-motion mechanism, a pivotedcontrolling-member for the clutch-mechanism having a cam surface and alug carried by said take-up arm adapted to engage said cam surface toLaeaese control the movement of said member in one direction and toengage said member at another place and move it into position to operatethe clutch mechanism.

13. In combination with a carrier frame and a supply holder rotatablymounted thereon, a spring tension let-ofi' mechanism for said holdercomprisin a pivotally mounted holder-controlling evice, a threadtensioning lever in constant operative engagement with said device, anda spring arranged to constantly act upon both the holder-controllingdevice and said lever.

14. In combination with a carrier frame and a supply holder rotatablymounted thereon, a spring-tension let-off mechanism for said holdercomprising a pivotally mounted holder-controlling device, a threadtensioning lever in constant operative engagement with said device, andan adjustable spring arranged to constantly exert a regulated actionupon both the holder-controlled device and said lever.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES E. TRAXEL.

Witnesses:

F. M. POTTER, J r., S. T. MEAD.

